51 fixed penalty tickets issued in FDH haunts over New Year weekend

January 3, 2021

Authorities distributed promotional social distancing leaflets to foreign domestic workers at a footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok. (SOURCE: Information Services Department/info.gov.hk)

Hong Kong authorities issued 51 HK$5,000 fixed penalty tickets in its four-day New Year operation to enforce social distancing measures in foreign domestic worker haunts.

In a statement Sunday, the government reiterated that domestic workers and other members of the public observed the measures after authorities advised them to.

“For example, during the joint operations today, the FDHs at the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok left on their own volition after advice was given,” the statement said.

However, the statement did not break down the number of foreign domestic workers who may have been fined during the operations.

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Authorities also went to domestic worker spots such as Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, and various places at Central, Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin, Tsing Yi and Tseung Kwan O.

The operations, which began on Dec. 31, were jointly conducted by the Labour Department, the police, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Authorities also issued leaflets to appeal to domestic workers to refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities, including cooked food or other hawking activities.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the city, the Hong Kong government implemented measures limiting the number of people allowed to gather in public to groups of two and requiring masks in public spaces. Violators will be issued fixed penalty tickets worth HK$5,000.

Health authorities earlier warned that the city may see a rebound of COVID-19 cases as gatherings may increase due to holiday celebrations.

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